Automobile shipping device



Oct. l0, 1961 H. w. CHAPMAN AUTOMOBILE SHIPPING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet l "Filed NOV. 14, 1958 INVENTOR.

j P M W/VI/s'.

Oct. 10, 1961 H. w. CHAPMAN 3,003,435

AUTOMOBILE SHIPPING DEVICE Filed NOV. 14, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 74 i E- E.

INV ENTOR.

06f 10, 1961 H. CHAPMAN 3,003,435

AUTOMOBILE SHIPPING DEVICE Filed NOV. 14, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheat 3 TTI/ INVENTOR. Har/ery )4,/6/7f7( ,9* @Ful/sf Oct. l0, 1961 H. w. CHAPMAN 3,003,435

AUTOMOBILE SHIPPING DEVICE Filed Nov. 14, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV ENTOR.

Oct. l0, 1961 H. w. CHAPMAN 3,003,435

AUTOMOBILE SHIPPING DEVICE fray/M5745'.

United States Patent V F 3,03,435 Y AUTOMOBILE SHIPPING DEVICE Harvey W. Chapman, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Evans Products Company, Plymouth, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 773,950 11 Claims. (Cl. 1115-363) 'Ihe present invention relates to automobile shipping devices and more particularly, to an improved automobile shipping device of the type adapted to be installed in railway freight cars for moving an automobile to and supporting it in a transport or semi-decking position. Automobile shipping devices of this general type have been previously known, one previously known construction which was the subject matter of Sulo M. Nampa Patent No. 2,164,662, involved a relatively expensive construction for providing the desired dierent transport positions of the frame.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved automobile shipping device of this general type which is simple in design, economical of manufacture, reliable and eflicient in operation, and which is easily adjusted by the operator for varying the position of the shipping device to accommodate different sizes and shapes of automobiles.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an improved shipping device in which the car supporting frame is carried by pairs of arms, at least one pair of which includes means for varying the effective length of the arm. It is also an obect of the present invention to provide such an improved automobile shipping device, the frame of which is supported on pairs of arms, one pair of which telescope and include means for varying the effective length to which the arms may be extended.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved arm for such an automobile shipping device including telescoping parts having a lost motion connection therebetween and having means for varying the eifective length of said arm.

ther and more detailed objects of the present invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specilication, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a broken, somewhat diagrammatic view showing a portion of a freight car and an automobile shipping device embodying the present invention mounted therein, the automobile shipping device being shown in full lines in an intermediate position and limiting positions to which it can be adjusted being shown in broken lines;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE l, showing the automobile shipping device positioned with the car receiving frame on the floor of the freight car;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged broken View of the telescoping arm of the shipping device and showing the rear leg in its stored or inoperative position;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 3, taken substantially along the line 4--4 thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a broken elevational view of the inner telescoping member of the telescoping arm illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the arrangement of the automobile shipping device during the eecting of certain adjustments in the means for varying the effective length to which the telescoping arms may be extended;

FIGURE 7 is a View similar to FIGURE 6 showing the position of the automobile shipping device when the telescoping arms are adjusted for their shortest effective ice length and the frame is disposed adjacent the lloor for receiving an automobile;

FIGURE 8 is a broken enlarged elevational view of a portion of the automobile shipping device showing the stored position of the front leg;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 8, taken substantially along the line 9-9 thereof with the front leg withdrawn from its stored position;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the telescoping arm structure showing in full lines the position of the parts when the shipping device is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 and showing in broken lines the position of the parts when the shipping device is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 6; and,

FIGURE 1l is a broken elevational view similar to FIGURE 8 showing an operative position ofthe front leg.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, the floor of the freight car is indicated at 12, the side wall at 14, and a horizontal longitudinally extending frame member or side plate at 16. This frame member 16 connects the side wall 14 to the top of the car (not shown). FIGURE l shows only a part of one end of the car, the right-hand portion of FIGURE l being adjacent the center of the car and the left-hand portion of FIGURE 1 being adjacent one end of the car.

The automobile shipping device of the present invention comprises a frame generally indicated at 18, which is supported on a pair of front arms 2i), a pair of rear arms 22, a pair of front legs 24 and a pair of rear lges 26. The front arms 20 have their lower ends pivotally connected to opposite sides of the frame 18, as indicated at 26 adjacent one end of the frame 18 and have their upper ends pivotally connected as shown at 30 to a reinforcing plate 32 secured to and extending along the central portion of the car frame member 16. Each of the rear arms 22 includes an inner arm member 34, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to a plate 36 secured to and depending from the car frame member 16 and the lower end of which extends into the upper end of the outer member 38 of the telescoping arm 22, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to one side of the frame 18 adjacent its opposite or rear end as indicated at 40.

The inner member 34 of the telescoping arm 22 is illustrated in elevation in FIGURE 5 and includes a tube 412 carrying an eye member 44 at its upper end. The inner member 34 includes a pair of spaced tubular segments 46 secured at one end to the opposite end of the tube 42 and carrying at its opposite end the tubular extension S2. These spaced parallel tube segments 46, which are shown in cross section in FIGURE 4, define aligned longitudinally extending slots Sil therebetween. The ends of the slots Sti are deiined by the lower end 48 of the tube 42 and by the adjacent end 76 of the tube 52. The tubular extension 52 is litted in and secured to the ends of the tubular segments 46. The outer telescoping member 38 of the telescoping arm 22 comprises a tubular member 54 carrying a iitting 56 secured to its lower end and having an eye 5S through Iwhich it is lpivotally connected to the frame 1S and a laterally extending projection 66 having an eye 62 to which one end of the rear leg 26 is permanently pivotally connected. The tube 54 carries a collar 64 fixed in its upper end which is adapted to receive and slidably t the tube 42 of the inner arm 34. In assembling the arm 22, the collar 64 is placed over the tube 42 during the assembly of the inner member 34 and the collar 64 is Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the outer member tube 54 after the inner member has been telescoped into the tube 54.

A pair of semi-cylindrically shaped reinforcing plates L66 are secured to the opposite sides of the tube 54 and have a series of pairs bf aligned openings 68 numbered 1 through 9, inclusive, spaced longitudinally thereof. The tube 54 is also provided with a plurality of openings 70 aligned with and constituting continuations of the openings 68 in the reinforcing plates 66. It will be appreciated that if desired, all of these openings 68 and 70 vmay be formed in suitable drillin operations after the reinforcing plates 66 have -been welded or otherwise suitably secured in place on the tube 54. A bolt 72 is permanently mounted Vin the upper of the holes 68, this being the number l hole of the nine holes 68 spaced longitudinally of the reinforcing plates 66. The bolt '72 is held in place by a nut 74 which is staked in place. It will be noted from FIGURE 4 that the bolt 72, in addition to extending through the apertures 68 in the reinforcing plates 66, also, of course, extends through the apertures 70 in the tube 54 and through the slots 50 defined by the inner member 34.

It will also be appreciated that when the inner member 34 is withdrawn relative to the outer member 38, until the bolt 72 engages the end 76 of the inner member tube 52, the telescoping arm 22 has been extended to its maximum length. The telescoping arm 22 also carries a pin 78 secured to the tube S4 by a chain 80, which pin 78 is adapted to be selectively inserted through the apertures numbered 2 through 9 of the apertures 68 and through the apertures 70 aligned therewith andthe slot 50 to provide for desired variations in the effective length to which the telescoping arm 22 may be extended. It will be appreciated that by mounting the pin selectively in the apertures numbered 2 through 9, inclusive, of the apertures 68, the eiective length of the arm may be 'reduced as desired. It will be appreciated that With the pin 78 in one of these apertures, the arm 22 will extend only until the pin '78 engages the Vend 76 of the tube 52 at the lower end of the slot 50 and the Veffective length to which the arm 22 may be extended will be shortened by the distance between the pin 78 and the bolt 72. The pin 78 is provided with a transverse opening 82 through which may be extended a wire safety clip S4 to prevent accidental withdrawal vof fthe pin 78 from the selected aperture 68.

Each front leg 24 is disposable ina stored position illustrated in FIGURE 8, in which the leg 24 telescopes into and is housed ina chamber 86 (see FIGURE 9) 'extending longitudinally of the frame 18 and formed vby a side'angle 88 thereof and a reinforcing angle 90. A fixed anchor tube 92 (see FIGURE ll) is mounted in the chamber 86 and slidably supports the leg 24 during movement thereof to and from the stored position. At its inner end the leg 24 carries a pivotally connected end section 94 and a stop plate 96 adapted to engage the inner end of the fixed tube 92 to prevent withdrawal of the end section 94 from `the tube 92. The leg 24 may be held in its stored position by a chain 98, one end of which is secured to the frame 18 by a hook 100, and the other end of which is engaged by the pivot pin 102 carried by the clevis 104 at the outer end of the leg 24. When the pin 102 is disengaged from the chain 98, the leg 24 may be Withdrawn from the frame 18 to the limiting position determined by the stop plate 96 and pivoted-relative to its inner end section 94 to the operative position illustrated in FIGURE 1, and in which the clevis 104 is secured to an anchor fitting 106 provided in the iloor 12 of the car. The construction of the clevis 104 forms no part of the present invention and is of the general type shown in detail in United States Letters Patent No. 2,118,030 granted May 24, 1938 for an invention Vof Oliver V. Cardinal.

Each leg 24 includes an outer member 108 and an inner member '110 which is extensible relative thereto-and readily locked in any one of a plurality of extended positions by the inter-engagement of teeth 112 formed externally of the inner member 110 and co-operating teeth (not shown) on the outer member 108. Extensible legs of this construction are fully disclosed in the above mentioned, and now expired, United States Letters Patent No. 2,164,662. It is there pointed out that the locking teeth are disengaged by rotating the inner member approximately ninety degrees (90) relative to the outer member 108, after which the inner member may be moved to a desired extended position and then again rotated relative to the outer member to rta-engage the teeth.

The rear legs 26 are similar in construction to, but shorter than, the `front legs 24 and different therefrom in that their upper ends, considered in the operative position illustrated in FIGURE 1, are pivotally connected to the lateral projection 60 on the fitting S6, as best illustrated in FIGUREl 3, andthe legs 26 in their stored position extend generally parallel to the telescoping rear arms 22 as illustrated in FIGURE 3, and the clevises 104 therof are connected to a retainer lug 114 carried by the tube 54. A flat spring 115 is mounted on the tube 54 of the telescoping arm 22 and is engaged by the leg 26 to prevent vibration of the leg 26 relative to the arm 22 when the leg 26 is in its stored position.

When the frame 18 is lowered to the iioor, with the front legs 24 and the rear legs 26 in the stored positions, as illustrated in FIGURE v2, the length of the rear telescoping 'arm 22 is such that the innermember 34 assumes a position relative tothe outer member 38 such that the slot 50 in the inner member 34 is aligned with those of the apertures 68 numbered 1 through 6, inclusive. This relative position of the inner and outer members of the telescoping arm 22 is illustrated in FIGURE 3, in which it will be seen that the end 76 of the tube 52, which denes the lower end of the slot 50, is disposed between those of the apertures 68 which are numbered 6 kand '7. Accordingly, with the Vframe 18 on the floor in theposition illustrated in FIGURE 2, the pin 78 may be'place'd inany of the apertures 68 which are numbered 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. If thevehicle to be shipped'on the frame 18 is one for which the proper-setting of the pin 78 is in one of these apertures numbered 2, Y3, 4, 5 or '6, or 'one in which the pin 78 is not needed because vthe proper setting is provided'by the bolt 72 in the aperture v68 numbered'l, the proper yadjustment may be 'made while the frame 18 is on Vthe iloor 12. That is, the pin 78 may be left out 'or placed' in the' proper aperture 68 numbered 2, 3, 4, `5 'or 6 and the vehicle driven onto the frame 18, the wheels ot the Ivehicle riding up the ramps 116 (see FIGURE y8) onto the wheel pansI 118 (see FIGURE9). 'I'he `frame`18 is then moved to the semi-decking or transport position by cables 120 connected to the cable lshoes 122 provided on the frame. These cables 120 are 'disposed at opposite sides of the freight car and extend upwardly over pulley wheels' 124 suitably supported on a longitudinally extending rod 126 extending between and supported on transversely extending frame members 128, commonly known as carlines, which are supported at their opposite ends on the longitudinally extending car frame members 16. The cables l12() are operated by suitable hoist means (not shown) located at the adjacent end of the freight car. lWhen the frame 18 reaches the desired transport position determined by the effective length to which the telescoping rear arms 22 may be extended, the front and rearl legs -24`and 26 are moved from their stored vpositions and'swungdownwardly. The inner members are extended to provide the proper length and the clevises 104' at the lower ends thereof are connected to the vanchor fittings lprovided on' the Hoor.

lThere are two such anchor fittings 106 and 130 to whicheachof.thetrontlegs l24 may be connected'and three anchor tittings 132,1-134 and 136-to which-cachot the rear legs'26 may be connected. The front legs 24 are connected to the anchor fittings 106 where possible so that a minimum extension of the inner members 110 is required. Where the.v position of the frame 18 is such that thelegs 24 are tool long to, permit connection to the lanchor-fittings106, they are connected to the anchor lit- 'tings 130. The rear legs 26 are generally connected to the ones of the iloor anchor littings 132, 134v and 136 in "which they are most nearly perpendicular to the frame 18. Y.It will be appreciated, of course, that for the different positions of the frame 18, the front and rear legs 24 and 26 will be extended to diierent lengths to properly support the frame in the desired transport position. When the legs have been secured in place, the tension on the cables 120 is released. j

When it is desired to insert the pins 78 into those of vthe apertures 68 which are numbered 7, 8 or 9, it is necessary to shorten the length of the arms 22 so that the fslots 50 of the inner member 34 extend below the one of the apertures 68 into which it is desired to place the pin. This may be done in any suitable manner, such for exfample, as by placing a support under the rear end of the fframe 18 as it is lowered toward the iloor causing the rear end of the frame to be supported above the oorl' A simple and improved means for effecting such adjustments, which is illustrated in the drawings, is the subject matter of the co-pending application of Herbert E. Rolfe, Serial No. 773,948, tiled November 14, 1958. As there illustrated, a retainer lug 138 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the front arm in a position to be engaged by the clevis 104 of the front leg 24 when the leg is Withdrawn from the stored position illustrated in FIG- URE 2 and pivoted upwardly toward the front arm 20, and with the inner member 110 thereof extended slightly. The legs 24, when thus connected to the retainer lug 138, prevent pivotal movement of the frame 18 relative to the ,front arms 29.

It will now be appreciated that when the frame 18 is lifted by the cables 120, the frame, the front arms 20 and the front legs 24 move as a unit, causing the lower end of the telescoping rear arms 22 to move about the pivotal connections 30 at the upper ends ofthe front arms 20. This movement, which takes place before the automobile is loaded onto the frame 18, causes a relatively rapid telescoping of the rear arms 22, causing the slots 50 of the inner members 34 to assume the position illustrated in broken lines in FIGURE 10, in which the pin 78 can readily be inserted in the holes 68 numbered 7, 8 or 9. FIGURE 6 illustrates a position to which the frame 13 may be moved during this movement and shows the connection ofthe front leg 24 to the front arm 20. When the pin 78 has been inserted in one of these holes 7, 8 or 9, and the frame 18 is lowered, it will assume a position in which it is inclined relative to the tio-or. If, for example, the pin 78 is placed in the aperture 68 numbered 9, and the frame 18 is then lowered, the parts of the telescoping arm will assume the position illustrated in full lines in FIGURE l() and the shipping device as a whole, will assume the position illustrated in FIGURE 7. It will be noted that in FIGURE 7 the leg 24 has been disconnected from the retainer lug 138 and returned to its stored position in the frame 18 preparatory to loading of a vehicle on the frame 18,

After a vehicle is moved onto the frame 18, and suitably secured in place, the frame is then raised by the cables 120 to the desired transport position. The front and rear legs Z/S and 26, respectively, are then extended to the proper lengths and connected to the proper ones of the anchors 106, 130, 1327 134 and 136 on the oor of the car. It will be appreciated that in removing the pins 7 8 from the apertures numbered 7, 8 and 9, the front legs 24 are again connected to the front arms 20 and the now interconnected trame 18, front legs 24 and front arms 20 are moved as a unit about the pivotal connections 30 at the upper ends of the front arms 20 to take the load ot of the pins 78 and permit withdrawal thereof.

One of the tie-down devices used to hold the vehicle in place on the frame is partially shown in FIGURE 9 .and generally indicated by the reference character 140. 'The details of this tie-down form no part of the present invention, but lare the subject matter of the cto-pending application-stumm L. Dun1ap, seria1 No. 773,969, sied November 14, 1958.

While only one specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is: p

l. In combination, a freight car, an automobile loading frame, means for securing the frame in the car including a pair of arms pivoted at their upper ends to the car on longitudinally spaced axes land at their lower ends to the frame adjacent the opposite ends thereof, said arms being adapted to swing the frame from a position adjacent the oor of the car to an elevated transport position, and means to vary the effective length to which one of said arms may be extended to vary the transport position of the frame.

A 2. The combination dened in claim l wherein one of said arms includes an extensible section and said last named means controls the extent to which said extensible section may be extended.

3. The combination detined in claim l wherein said one of said arms includes relatively movable parts movable to vary the length of said one of said arms and wherein said means provides a lost motion connection between said relatively movable parts.

4. In combination, a freight car, an automobile loading frame, means for securing the frame in the car including a pair of arms pivoted at their upper ends to the car on longitudinally spaced axes and at their lower ends to the frame adjacent the opposite ends thereof, said arms being adapted to swing the frame from Ia position adjacent the floor of the car to an elevated transport position, one of said arms including an outer member and an inner member mounted in and extending outwardly of and movable telescopically relative thereto for varying the length of said one of said arms, and cooperating means on said members providing a lost motion connection therebetween and means for varying the e'ective length to which said one of said arms may be extended.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said cooperating means comprises means on one of said members defining a slot extending longitudinally thereof and means on the other of said members defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending apertures registrable with said slot and a pin selectively mounted in said apertures and extending into said slot.

6. In a device for supporting an automobile in elevated position in a freight car on a main frame, an arm having its upper end adapted to be pivotally connected to said freight car and having its lower end adapted to be pivotally connected to said frame, said arm including an outer member, an inner member mounted in said outer member for telescopic movement relative thereto and extendlng outwardly of one end thereof, cri-operating means on said members providing a lost motion connection between said members and providing for varying the limiting position to which said inner member may be moved outwardly of Said outer member for varying the eiective length to which said arm may be extended.

7. The. combination defined in claim 6 wherein said o o-operating means includes means providing ya lost motion connection between said members and other means selective positionable to vary the etective length to which said arm may be extended.

8. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said cooperating means comprises means on one of said members defining a longitudinally extending slot, means on the other of. said members defining a plurality of transversely extending apertures spaced longitudinally therealong and registrable with said slot, Iand a pin adapted to be selectively mounted in said apertures and extend into said slot.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 including a stop permanently mounted in said other of said members and extending through .said slot and through the one of said apertures providing the greatest length of vsaid arm.

10. Ina device for supporting an automobile in elevated position in a freight car on a main frame, an arm including a tubular outer member and a tubular inner member teleseopically received in said outer member and extending outwardly of one end thereof, a fitting secured to the opposite end of said outer member and la second tting secured to the outer end of said inner member, one of said ttings being adapted to be pivotally connected to said freight car and the other of said fittings being adapted to be pivotally connected to said frame, said inner member having aligned longitudinally extending and transversely opening slots, said outer member having reinforcing means secured -to and substantially tting a portion of the outer surface thereof and extending longitudinally thereof, said outer member and said reinforcing means having .a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of transversely aligned openings, each pair of which is alignable with said slots, and a pin adapted to be selectively mountedin said -openings to extend through one of said Apairs of y'openings and through said slots.

l1. The invention as defined 'in claim 10 including a stop permanently .mounted .in the one of said pairs of. recesses nearest said one end ofsaid outer member and cxtending through said slots.

References 'Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,132,328 Tatum Oct. 4, 1938 2,137,981 Nightingale Nov. 22, 1938 2,160,079 Nampa May 30, 1939 2,164,456 Henry et al. July 4, 1939 2,164,662 Nampa July 4, 1939 2,177,525 Henderson Oct. 24, 1939 2,201,274 singer May 21, 1940 2,254,542 OBrien Sept. 22, 1941 2,336,566 PellnitZ Dec. 14, 1943 2,693,153 Storch NOV. 2, 1954 

